Whistles are blowing, shoes are squeaking and sweat is dripping. Fall sports have begun practice! Quarrier athletes, coaches and fans have kicked off our 2013-2014 campaigns and I, for one, can’t wait for that first competition. The boys golfers opened first with the West Central Invite Monday. Cross Country is next with the Beresford Invite on Aug. 30, and the Volleyballers kick off the following day with their tournament in Canton. On Sept. 3, the Competition Cheer ladies travel to Watertown and the Quarrier Football team opens against a tough Madison squad on Sept. 6. Let’s have a strong start!

This being the first installment of Quarrier Corner, I’d like to welcome all Quarrier fans back. I hope your summers were filled with cool waters, fast boats and some great grilling. As we head into the 2013-2014 school and sports seasons, I’d like to share some thoughts on what we coaches like to call “Quarrier Pride.”
You would be hard pressed to find any other school in the country with a Quarrier as a mascot. I truly hope our athletes and fans continue to aspire to be equally as unique. The current state of sports across our country weighs heavy on me as I sit and listen to the steady stream of reports of performance enhancing drugs, violence off the field, coaches and parents setting poor examples, and athletes believing their chosen sport owes them something. It seems the norm has become, “What’s in it for me?” or “There has to be an easier way.” Sorry folks, there is not an app or a drug or a short cut for being a champion.

I am so proud to see how hard our Quarrier athletes are willing to work all summer for the chance to be a champion – yes, “the chance.” Sometimes, hard work isn’t enough to get it done; that is the beauty and brutality of sports. After all the blood, sweat, tears and loss of sleep due to summer acceleration and camps, you still might lose. You see, there are other variables such as talent and skill, a bad match-up, sickness, an off-day, injury, and just plain old bad luck. This is when an athlete can prove to be as unique as our Quarrier name, can set him or herself apart, and can show what true Quarrier Pride is.

A Quarrier enjoys the struggle, the injury, the pain because that’s when the lesser athlete fades away. A Quarrier knocks down his opponent on a clean, hard hit, then, says “nice play” and helps him up. A Quarrier picks up trash that is in her locker room because it’s her locker room. A Quarrier applauds that new state record set by – a kid from Tri-Valley. A Quarrier takes great pride in realizing that the winning point, the medal, the state title is not the end goal. A Quarrier would rather be a contributor on a great team than a superstar on an average one. This is who we are!

Let’s all show our Quarrier Pride in the stands, on the fields, in the classrooms, and at our work places. Let it continue to be who we are as a community and not ever become just what we do sometimes. Be proud to be unique; be proud to be a Quarrier. The countdown to those first contests has started. See you at a game!